Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
Supertubos! - La Formula De Papinidotdotdotdot
artworkLa Formula De Papini is a marvelous surf adventure with lost to like. Thoroughly modern surf with ample vintage references and sparkling tone. Optimistic for the most part, but also presenting requisite danger.
Picks: Guapa's Stomp, Atmosfera Zero, Surf The Casbah, Beyond The Reefs, La Flema, Rock And Rumble, Bajo El Agua, Insolacion En Mogro, El Rey Del Aftersun

Track by Track Review


Guapa's Stomp dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

"Guapa's Stomp" has an open road sense of adventure, with a cycling riff and some very cool gently muted harmonic glissandos. Happy in a broad daylight coastal drive sort of way.

Atmosfera Zero dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Wit a bit of urgency, "Atmosfera Zero" conveys some risk as well as exhilaration. This has a decidedly modern SoCal feel to it. Very nice.

Surf The Casbah dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Middle eastern mystery, slow tremolo danger, and ominous chords. "Surf The Casbah" is a splendid track with moody progressions and exotic scales. With drama, no trust anywhere, and paranoia as a fashion statement, it's very nicely written and arranged song.

Beyond The Reefs dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Splendid tone and a driving beat, "Beyond The Reefs" is much more rockin' than a title like this usually conveys. Double picked, relatively fast, and quite punchy.

La Flema dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

With ghostly loneliness, cool drums, haunted tremolo fuzz, and Indian visions, "La Flema" paints a desolate picture of desert graveyards. Overall, the song is about feeling uneasy, but being unafraid. There are very tasteful guitar interplay segments.

Rock And Rumble dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

As the title suggests, Link Wray's "Rumble" is the basis for this, but there are lots of original rockin' sections too. Power and grit, sparkle and lovely muted reverb, whammy chords and rumbling tom toms, and those long Link Wray chords.

Bajo El Agua dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Splash chords and rockin' drums with a freeway attitude and sunny disposition. "Bajo El Agua" is a very fun track with an intense sound and ringing chords. Excellent!

Insolacion En Mogro dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Tremolo shimmer and throb, moody bass, and danger lurking in the shadows. Fine drum danger and a touch of spaghetti western imagery. "Insolacion En Mogro" is panoramic and adventurous.

El Rey Del Aftersun dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Classic two-note muted surf patterns and whammy chords bring on a totally cool surf instro. "El Rey Del Aftersun" sparkles with enthusiasm and liquid guitar lines. This is a superb track!